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Keen to study in beautiful New Zealand?

Join the No.1 digital design school in Asia Pacific

Most awarded digital design school in New Zealand

Media Design School has won plenty of of awards, and not just here in New Zealand. In fact, we were the most awarded school worldwide in Innovation at the 2018 Ad Stars.

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We ARE the real world

In our studio-like classroom environments, we simulate the realities of the workplace using state-of-the-art software and technology. Our students respond to live briefs from real companies and graduate with industry-standard portfolios.

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Our students are employable

93% of our graduating class found work within 6 months (2017). Better still, alumni are headhunted by some of the world's most influential studios. Plus, their starting salaries are higher than average!

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World-renowned faculty

#1 for Animation

Animation is a hot topic right now and Media Design School has been across it from day one. Today, we’re the #1 animation school in Australasia and we're ranked within the top 5 in the world. (Animation Career Review 2019)

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Business incubator for gaming and design students

Our MDS Studios programme nurtures students to start their own production company and take their concepts to market. Bring your ideas to life!

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Setting industry trends

Media Design School is home to New Zealand’s longest running and most established 3D animation and game development programmes. We understand what matters in the industry – first.

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Leaders in design

Not only was our graphic design degree ranked #1 internationally (Rookies 2016), but Media Design School was ranked among the top 10 Motion Design schools in the world and #2 in the Southern Hemisphere. (Rookies 2018)

Exclusive industry partnerships

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PS First logo

Sony PlayStation

MDS is the only school in New Zealand where students can develop games for the PlayStation platform.

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Unity Technologies

MDS is the only Unity Authorised Training and Certification partner in the country.

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IBM

MDS has partnered with IBM to design NZ’s first Bachelor degree majoring in Artificial Intelligence.

We accept applications only from education agents with whom Media Design School has a formal agreement with. Unsolicited international student application from non-registered agents will be treated as direct applications from students and will not result in the payment of commission.

Auckland Life

Living in Auckland, New Zealand

If you're new to New Zealand, Media Design School is here to help you. From the moment you first arrive in Auckland, our Student Services Manager will ensure that you are welcomed and that you settle into life in New Zealand as quickly as possible.

In 2019, the Global Peace Index ranked New Zealand the second safest country in the world, while the 2019 Mercer Quality of Life Survey ranked Auckland the third most liveable city globally.

Media Design School is located in the heart of Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city. Known as the city of sails, Auckland (or Tāmaki Makaurau) is New Zealand's most populated city with 1.4 million people currently residing here.

The central city boasts a harbour, museum, art gallery, several concert and theatre venues, town hall and countless public reserves, parks and recreation areas. A variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options cater to a range of interests.

New Zealand's largest and most culturally diverse city, Auckland is located next to the idyllic Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. Whether you're bungy jumping from the Auckland Harbour Bridge or catching a ferry to Waiheke Island for a glass of wine, its brilliant blue waters are never far from sight.

Student Visa

What you'll need to live and study in Auckland, New Zealand

As an international student, you are required by law to hold a valid visa and comply with your visa conditions for the duration of your studies with Media Design School. It is the students’ primary responsibility to maintain the lawful status to study and stay in New Zealand. It is important to apply for your student visa as soon as possible, as in some cases the manual application process may take a minimum of one month.

All students must provide Media Design School with a copy of a valid student visa that shows that you are eligible to study with Media Design School. If you do not hold a valid student visa or fail to provide one, your student account may be suspended, your programme of study may be withdrawn and enrolment may be cancelled.

How do I apply for a Student Visa?

You can submit your student visa application directly to Immigration New Zealand by making a paper application or applying through Immigration online.

Insurance

Ensure that you have appropriate insurance during your study

Medical and Travel Insurance​​​​​​

All our international students must have current medical and travel insurance to cover them for the duration of their planned period of study in New Zealand.

To ensure that you have appropriate insurance, Media Design School uses the well respected Australasian company Southern Cross as our preferred insurance provider. The Southern Cross StudentMax Plan offers you excellent Health and Travel Insurance benefits. These meet the requirements covered in the New Zealand Government's Ministry of Education's Code of Practice guidelines, (view more on the Code of Practice here) and it is the default insurance plan for all our new international students.

View the schedule of benefits for the StudentMax Plan.

Insurance Fees

Southern Cross have advised that effective February 1st 2019 the premium for International Student Travel insurance will increase. This means that a 12-month premium for the StudentMax Plan for a single student will increase to $633.

Having Health and Travel Insurance is a condition of enrolment at Media Design School, and this premium will automatically be added to your fees invoice. If you already have insurance with another provider, your insurance policy will be assessed by us prior to your travel to ensure the policy meets the requirements outlined by the Code of Practice. If your alternative insurance is deemed to meet the requirements, a waiver will be issued. To have your policy assessed and a waiver issued you must complete a waiver application form and provide a copy of your policy wording to the school (in English).

To assist you in completing the Waiver Application form, please use Media Design School's Insurance checklist to ensure your current policy meets the minimum requirements of the Code of Practice.

Download the International Insurance Checklist here.

Eligibility for health services

As an international student, you're not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your time here, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly-funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website athttp://www.moh.govt.nz.

Accident insurance

The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs.

For all enquiries regarding insurance please contact our Registry team at registrars@mediadesignschool.com.

Working after graduation

Keen to work in New Zealand after your study? Here's what you need to know.

If you're keen to stay on and work in New Zealand after your time at Media Design School, you will need a work visa. If you're not successful in finding immediate employment upon graduation, you may be eligible for a Post-study work visa – open for a maximum of 12 months.

To be eligible for a Post work visa (open); You must have successfully completed the qualification you were enrolled at Media Design School; You must apply for this Visa within three months of the end date of the student visa for that qualification; You must provide evidence of a minimum of NZ$4,200 available to maintain yourself during your 12-month stay in New Zealand (traveller's cheques or bank documents in your name is also accepted). When you have found a job, you can apply for a further visa for up to two or three years under the Study to Work category.

Note: Full details of visa requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service. This can be viewed athttp://www.immigration.govt.nz

If you require assistance or have any queries regarding the student visa process please contact our Student Services Manager.

Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you may be required to provide satisfactory evidence of your proficiency in English in the form of a recent IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score , TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score or a Pearson’s Test of English (PTE) from an accredited organisation.

Useful Links

Your guide to living and working in New Zealand Visa-Waiver Countries – Check if you are from a country which does not need to a visa before travelling to New Zealand Immigration New Zealand Knowledge Base – Immigration Q&A Immigration New Zealand Overseas Receiving and Processing Office – Contact details of Overseas Immigration New Zealand Offices Immigration New Zealand Office and Fee Finder – Find out where to lodge your application and how much it is going to cost